airhacks.fm podcast with adam bien There Can Be Only One
Jul 15, 2025
Maurice Naftalin, co-author of 'Java Generics and Collections' and a seasoned Java programmer, shares fascinating insights from his experiences in the tech world. He discusses the evolution of integrated development environments (IDEs) and emphasizes the advantages of Visual Studio Code in a polyglot landscape. The conversation also dives into Java's historical changes, the importance of generics, and the elegance of method references. Naftalin's stories from rural Scotland and his journey through the transformations in programming paint a vivid picture of the industry.
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Struggle With Early Internet Speed
- Maurice Naftalin described struggling with very slow internet using a 300 baud acoustic coupler in the Scottish countryside.
- This frustrating experience shaped his early beliefs about network distribution and CD usage for information.
Visual Age for Java Experience
- Maurice worked on a British government project with a complex Visual Age for Java front-end using arrows for component connections.
- Despite liking the concept, he found the arrow-laden interfaces visually overwhelming and hard to understand.
IDE Evolution Journey
- Adam Bien shared his journey through many Java IDEs, from Visual J++ to Visual Studio Code.
- He settled on VS Code largely for its lightweight nature and polyglot capabilities.
